Deaths from drug overdose are an increasing public health burden in the United States. This report uses the most recent data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) to update trends in drug overdose deaths, describe demographic and geographic patterns, and identify shifts in the types of drugs involved (CDC)

This update presents figures from the National Drug-Related Deaths Index (NDRDI) on deaths due to poisoning (overdose) by alcohol and/or other drugs, and deaths among drug users (non-poisoning), in the period 2004–2015 (Health Research Board, Ireland)

How government and communities should respond to drug use is a perennial question that has gained a renewed sense of urgency in the face of the current opioid overdose crisis. More than 52,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2015, a number that has grown nearly ninefold since 1980 (Vera Institute of Justice)

Overall, 43,703 students from 360 public and private schools participated in this year’s Monitoring the Future survey. The survey is funded by the NIDA, a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Wastewater analysis is widely applied internationally as a tool to measure and interpret drug use within national populations. The Australian Government has recognised the considerable benefits of wastewater analysis and has partnered with established scientific expertise within Australian academic institutions to introduce a national program based on international models (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission)

Drug markets remain the largest criminal markets in the EU. More than one third of the criminal groups active in the EU are involved in the production, trafficking or distribution of various types of drugs (Europol, Belgium)

The number of people who inject drugs
Women and young people as a proportion of people who inject drugs
HIV and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) prevalence among people who inject drugs
Coverage of needle and syringe programs (NSP) and opioid substitution therapy (OST)

This paper presents the EMCDDA’s current thinking on the conceptual framework for monitoring drug markets, crime and supply reduction — building on the work completed in this area and expanding to reflect the academic research underpinning this work and the developments observed

In 2017, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) of the Myanmar Police Force of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar collaborated for the 15th time with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to implement an opium survey

Needle and syringe exchange appears to be cost-effective, especially if considering the health gains from preventing HIV transmission too. Although the evidence is from observational studies, and the extent of the benefit might uncertain, the nature of the topic makes it difficult to gather evidence in any other way and compared to the cost of treating the consequences of hepatitis later, seems good value (NIHR)